Hankook Tire America was among the “newsmakers” that made headlines in the industry throughout 2019. Some of its achievements include releasing the redesigned Dynapro AT2 which is an all-terrain tire developed at the Tennessee-based facility and a new off-road tire, the Dynapro MT2.
The Tennessee plant is the flagship plant where Hankook developed and improved on some of its AT-m tires. These are now available in more sizes. The company also recognized American veterans for their contribution to the country and gave them a chance to walk away with a new set of Hankook tires.
According to Hosung Suh, the former President and Chief Executive Officer, Hankook had already started making plans for releasing new products for the year 2020. These products span commercial vehicles, light trucks, and passenger car segments.
For instance, the company will launch additional sizes for the Dynapro MT2 tire. It will also improve the tire’s design for extreme off-road driving. The passenger car product line will see two new sets of tires aimed at matching the increasingly growing GT segment and a new all-weather tire.
Lastly, Hankook will release application-specific tires for the commercial segment. These include additional E-3 Max Long Haul tires that are specifically designed to optimize economy, energy, and the environment. Hankook will also add a wide-base super single drive tire and a Smart City AU04 designed for city traffic and urban transportation. Continued urban developments and facility constructions will also take place this year to expand and strengthen Hankook’s growing demand and TBR network.
Speaking further about the company’s plans, Suh said that one of the key initiatives that Hankook plans to take up this year is strengthening the existing relationships it has with dealer partners. This will be executed through a new online platform, customer promotions, and high-touch dealer interactions.
Creating opportunities for dealers to experience Hankook products is also part of the plan. This includes having them participate in training activities and driving events. It will help them understand the benefits and features that come with every product from the company. Lastly, Hankook will add customer rebate promotions that will help boost demand and sell-out.
2020 is a big year for Hankook. The company plans to add more fleets to its National Account Program to provide dealers with more sale opportunities obtained through the enhancement of associated ERS services, network service opportunities, Emergency Road Service (ERS) Program, and assisting scaling developments. Close relationships with distribution and dealer networks will help reduce logistics and shipping inefficiencies.